Mobile health App launched to serve people across Myanmar with updated healthcare advices

May 27, 2016, Yangon – Telenor Myanmar Limited (“Telenor”) today launches the updated version of its mobile health App ‘Mate’, jointly developed with Marie Stopes Myanmar. Release of the updated version marks the first anniversary of the launch of the App.

About 70 per cent of Myanmar’s 51.5 million population live in rural areas where access to healthcare services and advices is a challenge for many people. Ratio of health workers for every 1,000 persons is still less than the World Health Organization’s standard of 2.3 in Myanmar. Through this joint initiative, Telenor and Marie Stopes Myanmar aim to serve individuals, expectants and mothers with a range of healthcare advices.

Telenor currently operates the largest mobile network in Myanmar with over 5,200 sites serving 16 million customers nationwide. Telenor is working to reach over 7,000 towers by the end of this year by expanding networks more into the rural areas.

“With our growing presence in the rural areas in Myanmar this mobile health initiative equipped with new features will serve more people including underserved individuals and households who have difficult access to healthcare services and information. Health is wealth and we believe this initiative will contribute to enjoying a better life for people across Myanmar,” said Telenor Myanmar’s acting Head of Corporate Responsibility Khin Pyait Wonn Thaw Tar.

The application, available to download on Telenor’s Mobile Portal and Google Play Store and http://bit.ly/matemm, now has over 18,000 downloads from individuals to access healthcare information. As part of its program, Marie Stopes Myanmar is also utilizing the Mate App in its 30 clinics across the country.

Mate version 2.0 offers information on sexually transmitted infections, cervical cancer and sexual and reproductive health and rights in addition to already available information on maternal and child healthcare. Women will get vital advices on birth, pre and post-natal care and receive weekly digital notices.

Mate App is developed as part of Telenor’s Corporate Responsibility initiatives in Myanmar. The initiatives also include Telenor’s Light Houses for promoting digital literacy, Myanmar Mobile Education Project providing non-formal education to underprivileged children; and humanitarian relief support for disaster-affected communities. Telenor recently began Special Numbers Auctions that act as a platform to generate donations for various social organizations, including monastic schools and orphanages.